Combined guard and cover for craftsmen&#39;s tables



y 18, 1950 P. M. NAHMENS 2,515,456

COMBINED GUARD AND COVER FOR CRAFTSMENS TABLES Filed Oct. 1, 1948 I mil Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED PATENT OFFICE eoivm'm en GUARD AND eovER ron oRAF'rsMENs 'r-ABnEs Paul M. N ahinens, Chicago, Ill.

Application o'ctob'cr 1, 194s,serial noatzgsm- 2 claims.- (01. 45-683) right angles as 'they should be'when a sheet lineup 'orlayout is made. The=cover se1-ves tokeep the .glasstable top clean, free from dust, dirt, wax spray, which is used. on presses and isbo'nstantly floating inii the air and when it settles on the glass surface, this war: in connection with the dirt on it causesv negatives 'to be'come scratched and damaged to the extent that theyare ruined and cannot be used. Then too, anyparticles of dirtiunder arsheet to be lined'up' Ora l'ayout lriade unit will interfere 'withrthe ruling device used on the table ior-ru1inglines on the paper 'or nega' tive or glass.

Craftsman line u-p and layout tablesn'are used particularly in the graphic arts industry for the purpose of making a very accurate layoutot a multiple form forofisett-pr'inting an'dialso for the making of a very accurate line-up of multiple pages, from eight pages up, on a large sneer by letterpress, so that-when this sheet with the multiple pages is printed'and is folded up into book form, every page backin'gon another mustbe i'n perfect alignment otherwise the page margins in a completed boundboo'k would vary andwoulu not be acceptable.

It will be understood that these craftsmens line-up and layout tables are used'particularly in the printing trades in lining up and laying: out the various pages of material which maybe com posed of type pages or plates locked'up' in 'a form or negatives to be positioned on a printing plate all to be printed in multiple pages-on asheet and also in the cutting, stripping, and trimmingto size of negatives inmultiples on a printing plate, prints and the like for use as a part of a printed page. They comprise a table having a glasstop with a light box enclosure beneath the glass top within which means of illumination such as fluorescent or cathode lights are mounted, toilluminate the worklaid ontopof the glass The straightedges, two in number, are mounted on the table above--the glass surface, one of these straightedges being adapted to travel in a -longitudinal direction over the surface ofthetable, While the other is moved laterally fromzsid'e to 2 side across the table. Only one of the straight edges can be in position over the top of the'table at the same time and when the straightedge which isnot being used is out of, service, it is pushed to one side of the table and onto pill'ow blocks .normallycarried by brackets mounted on the sides or ends of the table. The straightedge in this position is out of the path of operation of the other straightedge which is moved toposition over the top of the table so that negatives can be aligned or trimmed and if desired, a complete layout can be performed for a printing operation. Ofttimes in layout work, while the operator is performing a layout operation other workmen aproach the table from opposite sides or the-end from the side on which the operator is'working and lean upon or rest their elbows on the table thereby throwing the delicate straightedge mechanism out of. order, making it inaccurate so that ofttimes negatives for various printing work are rendered unfit for use because of being inaccurately out. In this connection the. gears operating these straightedges and the mountings therefore are made with tolerances of very minute measurements, usually being capable of being adjusted to within /1000 of an inch. Therefore it is highly important that the straightedges be kept accurate and in proper alignment. Likewise itis highly desirable that dirt, dust, wax and the like be kept away from the gears and operating parts of the straightedges, as well as away from the surface of the glass top because if a negative is placed upon a dirty surface it may be-ruined and if this dirt or the like interferes with the operation of the straightedges these are apt to be inaccurate, resultingin damage-delay and improper layout in connection with the printed work.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a cover which in cooperative relation with the guards can be drawn over the top of the table and supported by the guards over the straightedges so that the 'straightedges, as well as the top of the table, are protected from dust, dirt, wax andthe like, which collects around the usual printing plant at all times, as well 'as protecting the straightedges should some heavy object be placed upon or thrown upon the craftsmans table.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a combined guard and cover which when the table is notin use is thoroughly protected from dirt and the straightedges which are in out of service position are protected and are not liable to damage from a number of causes, and which when a table is to be used can be quickly and easily prepared for use and when it is desired to cover the table the cover can be drawn over the table very quickly to protect the surface and operating parts of the table from dust, dirt, and the like thereby keeping the table and the surface clean and preventing a, loss of time necessary to clean the surface of the table before putting it into use where guards and covers are not used.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a combined guard and cover which is simple and efficient in operation and which can easily be applied to craftsmens tables are now constructed with a minimum of effort and yet which will thoroughly protect the table and the delicate straightedges both while being:

used and when out of service.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a craftsmans table showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken across the end of the table on lines 2, 2 of Fi ure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view taken on lines 3, 3 of Figure 1.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a craftsmans table is shown which normally comprises a plurality of legs I6, II] at each of the corners thereof and side members II, II which are secured tothe legs III, In at their ends with end members I2, I2 being provided which are also secured at their ends to the legs I6, IE1. These members form an enclosure within which means of illumination such aselectric lights are mounted and over which a glasstop I3 is mounted above the means of illumination, so that rays of light pass therethrough to illuminate a negative and the outlines and figures appearing thereon to enable an operator to cut and trim the negative and assist layout operations performed on the surface of the glass top I3.

Longitudinally extending plates I4, I4 are provided on each side of the table upon which toothed racks I 5, I5 are mounted with a straightedge I6 being mounted on the racks I5, I5 and clamping rails IBa, Ifia being provided upon which spring negative holding clips are mounted. Calibrated rails I7, I! are also provided to enable the operator to easil determine measurements in connection with the operation of the straightedge I6, which it will be understood travels over the toothed racks I5, I5 from one end of the table to the other with the straightedge itself being in close contact with the glass I3 forming the top ofthe table. These straightedges, of course, can be positioned as desired and measurements determined by means of the calibrated rails I7, I! so that lines may be placed upon negatives, forms,

proofs or the like or they may be trimmed to size of the table top I 3.

A similarly constructed straightedge 2| is provided which moves transversely across the top of the table on toothed rails 22, 22, the structure and operation of this straightedge being the same as the straightedge I6 heretofore described except that it operates from side to side across the top of the table I3 and has the same means of adjustment and th like, and when not in use rests upon and is supported by the side guard hereinafter described, which is mounted on the brackets 23, 23 at the sides of the table, in a similar manner as the straightedge I6 is supported at the end of the table, so that when the be desired without interference from the other.

oil

This construction is standard with all craftsmen's tables and well known in the art and forms no part of my present invention.

A guard 24 in the form of a channel section is mounted on the brackets 23, 23 at one side of the table and extends therealong, the said guard 24 being integrally formed and having a web portion 25, a wide flange portion 26 which rests upon the brackets 23, 23, and having an upper flange portion 21, which has an inwardly turned edge portion 28, is provided with the open side of the guard 24 being toward the craftsmans table. Reinforcing members 29, 29 are provided in spaced relation with each other to give the guard 24 suflicient rigidity to withstand normal weight and pressure, which might be placed upon it. Mounted upon the brackets I9 at one end of the table is a similar guard 30 comprising a base flange portion 3I, a web portion 32 and an upper flange portion 33, which has a downwardly turned edge 34, the guard 36 being in abutting arrangement at the corner of the table with a diagonal joint of any desired form with the guard 24. The reinforcing and stiffening spaced angle members 29, 29 are placed in the member .39 for purposes of support with openings being formed in the flange 3| through which the blocks I 8, I8 extend upon which the hooks 29, 20 are mounted and which form supports for the straightedge I 6.

A casing 35 is secured to the guard 39 by being spot welded thereto, or bolted, if desired, and which has a spring roller 36 mounted therein with an opening 31 at the upper edge thereof and around which a flexible cover 38 is rolled with a loop 39 being formed of the cover 38 which is grasped in the fingers of the operator and forms means by which the cover 38 can be pulled out of the casing 35 and over the top of the table to a point where the free end thereof is down over the end of the table opposite to the end on which the guard 30 is mounted with one edge of the cover resting upon and supported by the guard 24 and by the rail at the opposite 'side of the table. Preferably when the cover is over the table the straightedges are both in off-table position.

From the foregoing description the installation and operation of the combined cover and guard will be easily understood. The units 24 and 30 are preferably fashioned to form prior to being attached to a table with the unit 3!! having openings formed therein through which the blocks I8, I8 extend and is placed in position on the brackets I9 and fixed thereto by means of bolts or screws as may be desired. The casing 35 in which the cover 38 and the pring roller which carries the cover 38 has previously been mounted upon the guard 30 and is long enough to extend substantially the width of the table plus the guard 24 which is mounted upon and secured to the brackets 23 at one side of the table. The brackets l9 and 23 are normally provided for these craftsmens tables to support the straightedge when they are in oif-table position. The meeting ends of the guard 24 and guard 30 are diagonally extending so that they are fitted together in close abutting relationship and may be bolted together by means of brackets, straps or the like, if desired, so that the application of the guards to the table is easily accomplished.

In operation it will be understood that when the straightedges l6 and 2| are in oil-table position they are lifted off the racks on which they are mounted, with the straightedge l6 being placed on the blocks [8, l8 and secured to the spring hooks 20, 20 in which position it is substantially protected within the guard 30.

When the straightedge 2| is in oil-table position, it is substantially protected within the guard 24 alongside of the table both from the weight of observer leaning over or upon their arms and resting their elbows upon the edge of the table and over the straightedge particularly when it is in off-table position. Also the straightedge is protected against falling objects and the like and because of the outer walls of the guards 24 and 30 being solid, dust, dirt and the like will not pas into the mechanism from. the floor of the printing shop. When the table is not in use, the operator by grasping the free end 39 of the cover 38 pulls the cover out a sufiicient distance so that the free end of the cover 39 can drop down over the end of the table opposite the one to which the guard 30 is mounted'in which position the edge of the cover is supported by the guard 24 along one side and by the rail of the table at the opposite side thereof protecting both the surface of the table and the straightedges from dust, dirt, or the like, which may collect thereon or float in the air in the printing shop.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a craftsmans table of a combined guard and cover therefor consisting of channel sections mounted at one side and one end of the table with the open side of the channel sections toward the said table, the channel sections having flange portions of unequal widths, the wider flange portions forming the bases for mounting of the flange sections and the narrow flanges form the upper rails of the said guards, and a retractible flexible cover for the said table mounted on the channel section at the end of the table and supported above the said table at one side and one end of the said table when drawn out to extended position over the said table.

2. In combination with a craftmans table of a combined guard and cover therefor consisting of channel sections mounted upon the said table at one side and on one end thereof in abutting relationship with each other, the said channel sections having flange portions and a web portion connecting the said flange portions, the channel sections being mounted on one of the flange portions with the open side of the channel sections being toward the table, one channel section being of lesser width than the other channel section and providing a top rail portion of the guard for said table and a casing mounted on the guard at the end of the said table, a spring roller mounted in said casing and a flexible cover on said roller the end of the cover extending beyond the guard at the side of the table.

PAUL M. NAI-IMENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 771,009 Guardia Sept. 27, 1904 1,143,901 Grand June 22, 1915 1,505,803 Pylick Aug. 19, 1924 1,797,717 Coate Mar. 24, 1931 Certificate of Correction July Patent No. 2,515,466

PAUL M. NAHMENS and that the said Letters 7 d of the case 1n the Patent Oflice.

may conform to the recor Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1950.

ted specification that [sum] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner 0 of the above the same f Patents. 

